Notice of BLM and Energy Commission Staff
Data Response and Issues Resolution Workshop
for the SES Solar One Project
(08-AFC-13)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) will conduct a data response and issues resolution workshop for the Stirling Energy Systems Solar One (SES Solar One) Project on September 16, 2009. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the applicant's responses to the BLM and Energy Commission staff's data requests and issues identified in the June 12, 2009 Issues Identification Report. All interested agencies and members of the public are invited to participate. The workshop meeting will be held:

The BLM and Energy Commission are currently reviewing the Application for Certification for the proposed development of the SES Solar One Project. To facilitate its joint review of the Application for Certification and Environmental Impact Statement process, the BLM and Energy Commission staff issued Set 1, Part 1 of the joint data requests for the following technical areas on June 17, 2009: Air Quality, Alternatives, Biological Resources, Efficiency, Geology and Paleontology, Land Use, Noise and Vibration, Soil and Water Resources, and Waste Management. On July 20, 2009, staff issued Set 1, Part 2 of the joint data requests for the technical areas of Cultural Resources, Public Health, Socioeconomics, Traffic and Transportation, and Visual Resources.

Project Description

The proposed project would utilize SunCatcher technology, consisting of approximately 34,000 25-kilowatt solar power dishes with a generating capacity of approximately 850 megawatts (MW). The project will be constructed in two phases. Phase I of the project will consist of up to 20,000 SunCatchers configured in 333 1.5-MW solar groups of 60 SunCatchers per group and have a net nominal generating capacity of 500 MW. Phase II will add approximately 14,000 SunCatchers, expanding the project to a total of approximately 34,000 SunCatchers configured in 567-1.5-MW solar groups with a total net generating capacity of 850 MW. Each SunCatcher system consists of an approximate 38-foot high by 40-foot wide solar concentrator dish that supports an array of curved glass mirror facets designed to automatically track the sun and focus solar energy onto a Power Conversion Unit which generates electricity.

The project would include the construction of a new 230-kilovolt (kV) substation approximately in the center of the project site. This new substation would be connected to the existing Southern California Edison (SCE) Pisgah Substation adjacent to the project site via approximately 2-miles (0.14-mile off-site) of single-circuit, 220kV transmission line. In addition to this interconnection transmission line that will be constructed by SES Solar, LLC, the proposed project would require SCE to expand and upgrade the existing 220kV SCE Pisgah Substation to support the increase in voltage to 500kV, loop the Eldorado-Lugo 500kV line into the SCE Pisgah Substation and demolish 65 miles of the existing Lugo-Pisgah No. 2 220kV transmission line and replace it with 500kV towers and conductor. In addition, modifications within the SCE Eldorado and Lugo substations will be required.

Background and Agency Roles in the Process

California Energy Commission

As the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Energy Commission is responsible for reviewing and ultimately approving or denying all applications to construct and operate thermal electric power plants, 50 MW and greater, in California. The Energy Commission facility certification process carefully examines public health and safety, environmental impacts and engineering aspects of proposed power plants and all related facilities such as electric transmission lines and natural gas and water pipelines. On May 6, 2009, the Energy Commission began review of the project. During the review period, Energy Commission staff will determine whether the proposed project complies with applicable laws related to public health and safety, environmental impacts, and engineering requirements.

Bureau of Land Management

Under federal law, the BLM is responsible for processing applications for rights-of-way to authorize the proposed project and associated transmission lines and other facilities to be constructed and operated on land it manages. In processing applications, the BLM must comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires that federal agencies consider the environmental impacts associated with the projects they approve.

The purpose of the BLM action is to provide the applicant a decision in processing its application for a right-of-way (ROW) grant for legal use and access of the public lands in Imperial County, California managed by the BLM. The need for BLM action is established by the BLM's responsibility under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), NEPA and other federal laws to respond to SES's request for a ROW for legal access to construct, operate and decommission a proposed concentrated solar thermal generation plant and related facilities on the public lands. For the decision to be made, BLM will decide whether or not to grant a ROW, and if so, under what terms and conditions.

The proposal would also create the need for amending the BLM California Desert Conservation Plan 1980 (CDCP). The purpose of the CDCP amendment is to ensure the public lands are managed through land use planning according to the principles of multiple use identified in FLPMA while managing valid existing rights and other obligations established. The proposed amendment is necessary to address changing resource demands and technological development proposals on public lands. The CDCP as amended requires (page 95) that 'Sites associated with power generation or transmission not identified in the Plan (as is this case) will be considered through the Plan Amendment process."

The Joint Agency Memorandum of Understanding
Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the BLM and the Energy Commission staff intend to conduct a joint environmental review of the SES Solar Two Project in a NEPA/ CEQA process. It is in the interest of the BLM and the Energy Commission to share in the preparation of a joint environmental analysis of the proposed project to avoid duplication of staff efforts, to share staff expertise and information, to promote intergovernmental coordination at the local, state, and federal levels, and to facilitate public review by providing a joint document and a more efficient environmental review process.

Public Participation

The Energy Commission's Public Adviser's Office provides the public with assistance in participating in Commission activities. If you want information on how to participate in this proceeding, please contact the Associate Public Adviser, Loreen McMahon, at: (916) 654-4489, toll free at (800) 822-6228, by FAX at (916) 654-4493, or by e-mail at public.adviser@energy.state.ca.us If you have a disability and require assistance to participate, please contact Lourdes Quiroz at lquiroz@energy.state.ca.us or at (916) 654-5146 at least five days in advance or the workshop. Spanish translation services will be available at the workshop.

Questions

General information about the proposed generating facility and related documents are available on the Energy Commission's website at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solarone/index.html
or the BLM's website at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow.html.
Please direct all news media inquiries to the Energy Commission's media office at (916) 654-4989 or e-mail at mediaoffice@energy.state.ca.us. For technical questions on the subject matter, please contact Christopher Meyer, the Energy Commission Project Manager, at (916) 653-1639 or by e-mail at cmeyer@energy.state.ca.us or Jim Stobaugh, the BLM Project Manager, at (775) 861-6478 or by e-mail at: jim_stobaugh@blm.gov. If you are unable to attend the workshop, written comments may be sent to the Energy Commission Project Manager electronically or to the Energy Commission's street address shown on the letterhead of this notice.